Honestly, before I started looking up SW discussions on the Inernet, I had no idea that Luke is, apparently, "whiny", and all because of just one line in ANH! (actually, he complains a lot on Dagobah as well).

Honestly, before I started looking up SW discussions on the Inernet, I had no idea that Luke is, apparently, "whiny", and all because of just one line in ANH! (actually, he complains a lot on Dagobah as well).

One line?

"But I was going into Tosche Station to pick up some power converters!"
"It just isn’t fair. Oh, Biggs is right. I’m never gonna get out of here!"
"But it's a whole 'nother year..."
"Looks like I'm going nowhere..."
"What a piece of junk!"

Honestly, before I started looking up SW discussions on the Inernet, I had no idea that Luke is, apparently, "whiny", and all because of just one line in ANH! (actually, he complains a lot on Dagobah as well).

One line?

"But I was going into Tosche Station to pick up some power converters!"

I didn't even know that Anakin was whiny until people started whining about it on JC.

"I don't understand"
/LM

I wrote in another thread, I hadn't known Luke was whiny until I joined Internets in lat 90s. Don't get me wrong, I love Internet (heck, it provides a living for me), but sometimes cynicism and nitpicking gets to me.

FWIW, I watched the entire saga with my ex's preteen daughter and some of her friends over the course of a weekend (for a sleepover party). We watched the saga in episode order, on DVD (this was way before Blu-ray). It was my ex's choice, not mine. None of the kids had seen a Star Wars movie before. But, based on that experience, I've become a fervent supporter of the chapter order (123456), and my respect for Lucas as a storyteller has grown immensely. The saga works really, really well that way—much better than I had previously assumed it would.

That gladdens me to read! I had a similar experience when I watched the movies I-VI in one day after a long Star Wars hiatus.
The story opened up to me in a way that I didn't expect and it made the Saga so much better. The Anakin arc became very clear and brought the story together beautifully. I could really see his face behind the mask of Vader and, after having just experienced ROTS, I felt the danger of this emotionally labile wreck of a man going after Luke in TESB. Vader no longer felt like a separate character - He was now merely a very tragic part of Anakin's journey.
I never had a problem with the Hayden ghost, but with the Saga viewed this way, the benefits of his appearance became clearer than ever. Overall, ROTJ wrapped it all up really well!
I'm very curious about the third trilogy and how it's going to work in relation to the previous two.

FWIW, I watched the entire saga with my ex's preteen daughter and some of her friends over the course of a weekend (for a sleepover party). We watched the saga in episode order, on DVD (this was way before Blu-ray). It was my ex's choice, not mine. None of the kids had seen a Star Wars movie before. But, based on that experience, I've become a fervent supporter of the chapter order (123456), and my respect for Lucas as a storyteller has grown immensely. The saga works really, really well that way—much better than I had previously assumed it would.

I've watched the Saga from beginning to end (1-6) a dozen times at this point, but there's no way to erase the fact that I've seen the original trilogy many times before seeing any of the prequel movies. It would be interesting to watch the Star Wars movies like that without having seen any of them. Story wise, of course, watching them in order makes sense. But I imagine episodes 4-6 would be a bit of a let down (in terms of light saber battles, special effects, etc) after seeing 1-3 if you're a first time viewer. I suppose the prequel trilogy would be all the more better if you had no idea of what was to happen to Anakin, the Jedi, and the Republic, but the prequel movies were made for an audience that already knew all this, so episodes 1-3 will probably always be seen as a "this is how Anakin turned" trilogy after the fact rather than a true introduction to the franchise.

I've watched the Saga from beginning to end (1-6) a dozen times at this point, but there's no way to erase the fact that I've seen the original trilogy many times before seeing any of the prequel movies. It would be interesting to watch the Star Wars movies like that without having seen any of them.

I know exactly what you're saying. The trick is to watch them with preteens (they are the target audience for these movies to begin with), and experience the story through their reactions.

Story wise, of course, watching them in order makes sense. But I imagine episodes 4-6 would be a bit of a let down (in terms of light saber battles, special effects, etc) after seeing 1-3 if you're a first time viewer.

A little, but it didn't seem too distracting.

I suppose the prequel trilogy would be all the more better if you had no idea of what was to happen to Anakin, the Jedi, and the Republic, but the prequel movies were made for an audience that already knew all this, so episodes 1-3 will probably always be seen as a "this is how Anakin turned" trilogy after the fact rather than a true introduction to the franchise.

See, that was the part that really made me change my mind. I had previous thought about the "ideal viewing order," but I had never taken the 123456 chapter order seriously because I was very much married to not spoiling Vader's reveal that he's Luke's father. But seeing Anakin turn to the dark side and what's happening to the Jedi is a far more intense and far-reaching plot twist than that, and I previously hadn't been able to distance myself from that fact that I already knew the outcome, having seen the OT so many times already. Furthermore, Vader revealing he's Luke's father remains somewhat of a plot twist, it just becomes more of an "OMG, he's finally told him!" moment, so it still very much has an emotional impact. Also, the ending of the saga seems to work even better when you've first seen Anakin's fall. So I kind of doubt that the movies were made for an audience that already knew this, given how well they work in chapter order.

One thing I have to admit though: ROTS is really intense when you're not expecting the main character to turn evil like Anakin does. The kids I watched it with were really very shocked, but I think they could deal with that (I think...). I'm not sure if younger children can, though.

The last time I watched the whole saga it was 4 5 1 2 3 6 - this way, it ends on a happy note. ANH is still the best introduction to the GFFA and doesn't stick out much if you watch it in the middle.

I think 451236 is the best way for seasoned vets like we all are. It starts at the first real film and ends on a high note I love it that way. Plus it gives the PT a kinda flashback to see if Vader was lying feel.

The last time I watched the whole saga it was 4 5 1 2 3 6 - this way, it ends on a happy note. ANH is still the best introduction to the GFFA and doesn't stick out much if you watch it in the middle.

I think 451236 is the best way for seasoned vets like we all are. It starts at the first real film and ends on a high note I love it that way. Plus it gives the PT a kinda flashback to see if Vader was lying feel.

*shakes head* The worst part about this idea is that it destroys the original trilogy. The trilogies are like six-hour movies in themselves. Especially the original trilogy.

The last time I watched the whole saga it was 4 5 1 2 3 6 - this way, it ends on a happy note. ANH is still the best introduction to the GFFA and doesn't stick out much if you watch it in the middle.

I think 451236 is the best way for seasoned vets like we all are. It starts at the first real film and ends on a high note I love it that way. Plus it gives the PT a kinda flashback to see if Vader was lying feel.

*shakes head* The worst part about this idea is that it destroys the original trilogy. The trilogies are like six-hour movies in themselves. Especially the original trilogy.

Not if the intention is to watch the saga as a saga, technically it's one long story. Not saying that is best way altogether just for mixing it up. My most watched method is OT then PT though I mostly watch 4 5 and 1 lol